Education policy and funding debates emerge in Uruguay and Colombia

In Uruguay, Emiliano Mandacen, general secretary of the National Federation of Secondary Education Teachers (Fenapes), is campaigning for the upcoming elections to the Governing Council of the National Administration of Public Education (Codicen). The election, organized by the Electoral Court, will take place on October 3, where teachers will elect two representatives to the five-member body. Mandacen emphasized that educational improvements require long-term discussions regarding budgets, teacher workloads, infrastructure, and social inequality.

In Colombia, a political dispute has emerged in the Tolima Assembly regarding a proposed ordinance intended to secure funding for higher education scholarships. Deputy Carlos Reyes opposed the initiative, arguing that the current drafting of the project improperly asks deputies to perform administrative functions by specifying resources for particular private universities. Reyes suggested withdrawing and revising the project to avoid legal and administrative complications that could ultimately jeopardize student scholarship access.